Alwan, along with Mukhtar al-Bakri, Faysal Galab, Yahya Goba, Shafal Mosed, and Yasein Taher, was part of the Lackawanna Six, a group of men charged with providing material support to Al Qaeda. Alwan received training at an Al Qaeda camp in Afghanistan, but said he thought he was going to participate in a religious retreat. He was sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison.